Wikimedia UK, together with the other chapters, are currently drafting the process that
will be used next year to choose the members of the Wikimedia Foundation's board who
sit in the "chapter-selected" seats, We would appreciate any comments you have
on this process, so we can feed them back before it is approved.
First, I'll summarise the background as best as I can, for those who aren't
familiar. Apologies if I state something thay everyone knows!
Wikipedia, Commons, Wikinews and the other projects are owned by the Wikimedia Foundation,
a US charity incorporated in Florida. In April 2008, the Foundation announced [1] a change
in the way the Foundation's Board is made up: in the future, it will consist of ten
members, as follows:
- Three members elected by the Wikimedia community (registered users who have made more
than a certain number of edits)
- Two members selected by the 21 recognised chapters throughout the world
- Four "specific expertise" members appointed by the Board
- One "community founder" member being Jimmy Wales
The three elected seats will be decided in July 2009 and every two years thereafter.
The chapters were asked to fill the two chapter seats as soon as possible and then in odd
years thereafter. First they were asked to draft a process that would be agreed by the
Foundation and then to select two people following that process. In the event, the
chapters moved to discuss nominations before the process had been agreed by the
Foundation; following discussions at the Chapters Meeting in Berlin in April a compromise
was proposed: to maintain continuity, the current chair was nominated alongside the top
person to come out of the discussions. This was eventually accepted by a majority of the
chapters and the new people were appointed a few days ago [2]. Wikimedia UK only joined
the discussions at the end - only after we were formally recognised as a chapter in
January.
So that the process is cleaner in 2010, the chapters want to prepare a formal process so
that this can be approved by the Foundation Board before the nomination begins again. The
current proposal for this process is at [3] with proposed changed at [4]. I've copied
the proposal below.
At this stage, Wikimedia UK has been asked to give its input into what we think the
process should be. A committee of 2/3 people will then be appointed from all the chapters
to re-draft the process which will then come back to us for approval.
====
Proposal:
Every even numbered year the chapters will select two people to take seats on The
Wikimedia Foundation (WMF) board. The chapters and WMF board agree that these board
members are not intended to represent the chapters, they are expected to act in the best
interests of the WMF at all times. These selections will be made by 1st July of each year.
The following steps will be taken:
1. By 1st April: The chapters will appoint a moderator to manage the election. This is
intended to be very simple, sometime a few weeks before that date someone should nominate
a moderator and if no-one objects (which they should only do if they have a serious
problem with the candidate's ability to do the job in an fair and impartial manner)
that person will be moderator. The moderator should not be a candidate, but they can
participate in the process. The moderator is responsible for keeping the community updated
with the progress through this process and will serve as liaison to the WMF board.
2. By 1st May: Chapters will nominate at most two candidates each by supplying the
following information on the chapters wiki:
1. The name of the nominee
2. The name of the nominating chapter
3. A statement from the chapter in support of the nominee
4. A statement from the nominee in support of themselves, confirming they are
willing and eligible to take a seat on the WMF board
3. From 1st May to 15th June: The chapters will discuss the candidates on the chapters
wiki and will attempt to reach a consensus on which two to select. If, at any time during
this period, the moderator feels a consensus has been reached he will clearly state who
he/she believes the chapters have chosen and if no chapter has objected after a week,
those nominees will be selected and the moderator will inform the WMF board. If a chapter
objects, the chapters will go back to discussion. This process can be repeated as many
times as appropriate during the period.
4. If no consensus has been reached by 15th June the moderator will announce a vote.
Each chapter will vote for two candidates by posting on the chapters wiki and, on 1st
July, the moderator will count the votes and the two candidates with the most votes will
be selected and the moderator will inform the WMF board. In the event of a tie, the
moderator will toss a coin.
The method(s) used by individual chapters to make any decisions required of them are
entirely up to the chapter in question, however chapters are advised that the names of
candidates and any discussion and votes are confidential and should be restricted to the
chapters wiki.
[1]
http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Board_of_Trustees/Restructure_Announcem…
[2]
http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/foundation-l/2009-May/052037.html
[3]
http://chapters.wikimedia.ch/Committee_proposals#Process_for_the_future (note: limited
availability)
[4]
http://chapters.wikimedia.ch/Talk:Appointment_process/Committee_proposals#C…
(note: limited availability)